Marking World Refugee Day, 20 June, 2012

UNHCR is marking World Refugee Day by rolling out a new campaign, called 'Dilemmas,' which depicts some of the tough choices facing refugees, helping the public to empathize with, and understand, their dilemma.

It is being supported in special television spots by UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie and other celebrities, including some of the agency's many Goodwill Ambassadors.

The global social advocacy campaign, "Dilemmas", aims to help fight intolerance and xenophobia against refugees. UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie and a host of other celebrities echo the same strong message: No one chooses to be a refugee. You can help: http://takeaction.unhcr.org

“Refugees leave because they have no choice. We must choose to help,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message to mark the Day, observed annually on 20 June.

Earlier this week the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released its Global Trends 2011 report, which updates the number of people of concern to the agency, including refugees, asylum-seekers, the stateless and internally displaced people.

It showed that a record 800,000 people were forced to flee across borders last year, more than at any time since 2000. The new refugees are part of a total of 4.3 million people who were newly displaced last year, owing to a string of major humanitarian crises that began in late 2010 in Côte d'Ivoire, and followed by others in Libya, Somalia, Sudan and elsewhere.

“These numbers represent far more than statistics; they are individuals and families whose lives have been upended, whose communities have been destroyed, and whose future remains uncertain,” said Mr. Ban.

The UN chief stressed the need to work together to mobilize the political will and leadership to prevent and end the conflicts that trigger refugee flows. And where security is restored, it is vital to address the underlying causes of conflict, allowing sustainable refugee return through access to livelihoods, services and the rule of law, he added.

Sources: UN News Centre & UNHCR